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NEW YORK -- LeBron James said he was not trying to make a statement in deciding not to stay at President-elect Donald Trumps SoHo hotel, the Cleveland Cavaliers residence while they are in town.Its just my personal preference, James said as he talked to reporters from a baseline seat at Madison Square Garden with Cleveland preparing to play the New York Knicks later Wednesday night. At the end of the day, I hope hes one of the best presidents ever for all of our sake -- my family, for all of us. But its just my personal preference. It would be the same if I went to a restaurant and decided to eat chicken and not steak.James made his comments just hours after Trump was named Time magazines person of the year for 2016, with the cover of the publication showing the real estate tycoon looking over his shoulder while seated on an armchair with the caption President of the Divided States of America.James said it was the first time in his career that he chose to stay somewhere other than the primary team hotel on a road trip. A team source told ESPN.com that the alternative hotel -- which about half of the Cavs roster was excused to stay at should they choose to -- was located close enough to the Trump SoHo that both factions of Clevelands traveling party were able to meet and take the same bus over to the shootaround.I rode the bus like I do every [shootaround], like what Ive done for 14 straight years, James said. With my teammates, coaching staff and everybody else that travels with us.Cavs coach Tyronn Lue, who did stay at the Trump SoHo, was asked how unique of a situation it was for his team.Is it odd? I mean, its not normal, Lue said. But considering the circumstances, thats what we have. Thats not my main objective. My main thing is just trying to get this team to stay on track and playing the right way and trying to get back to playing Cleveland Cavaliers basketball.The Cavs entered into a contract with the Trump SoHo for their regular season trips prior to the presidential election because the hotel could guarantee the team a block of rooms in the spring should Cleveland end up playing either the Knicks or the Brooklyn Nets in the playoffs.Custom Athletics Jerseys . The native of Mont-Tremblant, Que., captured a World Cup downhill event Saturday, his second this year and fifth career victory on the circuit. Tony Phillips Jersey Large . -- The Magic have their first victory of the new year. http://www.customathleticsjersey.com/ . The players spoke Jan. 13 during a Major League Baseball Players Association conference call after Rodriguez sued the union and Major League Baseball to overturn an arbitrators decision suspending him for the 2014 season and post-season. Authentic Custom Athletics Jersey . The phone hearing is scheduled for 4:30pm et/1:30pm pt. Winchester, who was not penalized for the hit, appeared to make contact with Kellys head early in the first period of Thursdays game in Boston. Cheap Custom Athletics Jersey . -- Derrick Rose shook off poor shooting early to hit clutch shots late and Carlos Boozer had 20 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Chicago Bulls to a 104-95 preseason victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday night.Texas administration is receiving extreme pressure from prominent boosters to dismiss Charlie Strong and hire Houston coach Tom Herman, sources told ESPN.Earlier this week, Strongs job was considered safe if the Longhorns (5-6, 3-5 Big 12) won out against Kansas?and TCU. However, that all changed with Houstons upset of No. 5 Louisville?on Thursday and Texas 24-21 overtime loss to Kansas on Saturday, sources said.Texas stunning loss likely sealed Strongs fate, although he is still expected to coach the season finale Friday against TCU, according to sources.I do not see how he can survive, a source said. He has been given every chance to succeed. Everyone wanted him to.Sources said they dont expect an official decision on Strong until after the completion of the regular season Friday.?He dropped to 16-20 since arriving at Texas -- including 12-14 in league play -- and not even the $10 million buyout he would be due could be enough to keep him from getting fired.We just had our opportunities there, Strong said after Saturdays loss. Not much needed to be said.Asked what it means for his future, Strong replied: No idea.Texas president Greg Fenves and athletic director Mike Perrin have been consistent and very outspoken about their support of Strong. In October, sources told ESPN that Strong would not be fired in-season and be allowed to complete the season.Perrin declined to speak with reporters after the game, looking away when he approached them. Strongs wife, Victoria, was crying outside the Longhorns locker room.Kansas had won only two of its past 31 games. It was Kansas first Big 12 victory since November 2014 and denied Texas a bowl-qualifying win.?The Longhorns must beat TCU on Friday to get bowl-eligible.The lure of Herman, always considered Texas No. 1 target, had dulled with Houstons losses to Navy and SMU and close wins against Tulsa and UCF. The SMU loss was extremely troubling to Texas boosters because it was to a perceived lesser school in the state, sources said.ddddddddddddThat all changed with Herman improving to 22-3 at Houston by dominating Louisville. After that win, the bidding war for Herman is expected to start at a minimum of $5.5 million, an industry source said.According to a source close to the situation, Houston athletic director Hunter Yurachek met with Hermans agent for about two hours last week, but that was before Houston beat Louisville and Hermans stock began to soar again.The source said Houston is prepared to add another seven figures to Hermans current contract, but that if Texas were to offer Herman the job, theres no way the program could compete financially.Houston is trying to raise between $35 and $40 million for a football operations building Herman has asked for that he thinks will help the program win a national championship.Herman is considered among the leading candidates at Texas and LSU, if Jimbo Fisher remains at Florida State, as well as Oregon, if the Ducks fire Mark Helfrich, sources said. Herman also would be a top target of Florida State, if Fisher left for LSU, a source said.Another concern of Texas top boosters is the possibility Texas A&M decides to part ways with Kevin Sumlin for the opportunity to grab Herman, sources said.Herman was dead in the water [with Texas] when he lost to SMU [Oct. 22], a source said. And now hes hotter than ever.Herman was Ohio States offensive coordinator before being named Houstons coach. He has won 22 of 25 games, including all five contests as an underdog against Oklahoma and Louisville this season and Louisville, Navy and Florida State in 2015.Information from ESPNs Heather Dinich and The Associated Press was included in this report. ' ' '